Washington (CNN) - New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said he's not in favor of the Republican-led strategy to defund the federal health care law by tying it to a spending bill, a maneuver that risks a government shutdown if Congress doesn't reach a deal before the Tuesday deadline.

Asked in a CBS News interview if Republicans should be threatening a shutdown over Obamacare, the Republican governor said "no."

"I think there's got to be a solution other than that," he continued. "I think quite frankly, to be fair, I don't think you hear responsible Republican leaders advocating a shutdown of the government."

Christie is often mentioned as a potential 2016 Republican presidential candidate along with Sens. Ted Cruz, Rand Paul and Marco Rubio, who have all been at the front of the defund-Obamacare effort that could lead to a shutdown.

Some conservatives say they're not trying to shut down the government; rather, they say their plan keeps the government afloat. If the measure fails, it's the Democrats who are voting against it, they say.

But moderate Republicans in the Senate tend to argue the tactic is too dangerous. And Christie agrees.

"I think it's always irresponsible if you're running the government to be advocating for shutting it down," he said. "That by definition is a failure. You gotta work it out."

The governor, who's up for re-election in November, said he's confident Congress will "work it out" this weekend.

soundoff(30 Responses)

Data Driven

Christie is clearly not with the program. The idea here is to overturn the results of the 2008 and 2012 elections. We are now fully in a cold Civil War: the last time elements of the government refused to accept the people's decision was when Southern states seceded after Abraham Lincoln was elected President.

No bullets or secession from the Union, but this is an outright rebellion. Which side are YOU on?

September 27, 2013 09:30 am at 9:30 am |

M.A.P.

They can try and twist the situation however they want, if the government shuts down this is 100% the Republicans fault. The American people voted for the Affordable Care Act and they should be able to expect to get what they voted for – no matter how much money and noise a small minority of anti American tea party followers can make.

Christie seems to be one of the only sane republicans. I would never vote for him but at least he doesn't scare the bejeezus out of me.

September 27, 2013 09:42 am at 9:42 am |

Rudy NYC

Calling it irresponsible is being polite. Calling it reprehensible is too poilite. It's terror at its' purest. It's like the middle ages when the lord of the castle threatens to cut off the water to the people of the village outside of his walls, unless they go to work doing his bidding. It's the tryannical method that the Republicans are using.

September 27, 2013 09:46 am at 9:46 am |

Dominican mama 4 Obama

That's right Christie, stay above the "cray-cray" line if you're hoping to get re-elected.
Not too many suicidal Teatards in your neck of the woods, so your sanity is appreciated by your constituents, and others like myself.

September 27, 2013 09:46 am at 9:46 am |

Joe Perry

Chris Christie for President. He shows more common sense tha most politicians do. He cares.

September 27, 2013 09:52 am at 9:52 am |

Zerubbabel

There goes what is left of dwindling repub primary chances. There is no way that the RWNJ's are going to vote for this RINO. Free thinking is not allowed in their collective.

September 27, 2013 09:54 am at 9:54 am |

Dominican mama 4 Obama

to be fair, I don't think you hear responsible Republican leaders advocating a shutdown of the government."
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Okay, but who aresponsiblere these so-called Republican "leaders"?
And why are these Republican leaders allowing the crazy, carnivorous minority within the Party to rule the roost?
Why are they allowing said minority to hold our credit, and the country hostage?
What is so "responsible" about that?

September 27, 2013 10:01 am at 10:01 am |

george cook

GUV Christie...GET LOST

September 27, 2013 10:10 am at 10:10 am |

John

I'll go Republican if this guy wins the primary. I like his style. "I'm DOIN what I want, now shut up!"

September 27, 2013 10:11 am at 10:11 am |

Anthony

It is even more irresponsible to threaten a government default, which would happen if the debt ceiling is not raised. It is like refusing to pay you credit card bills on things that you have already bought. Raising the debt ceiling allows the government to borrow money to pay for things that the government already has the legal obligation of paying, because they are in a law/budget/spending bill. Once a budget/spending bill is passed by Congress and signed by the president, it has the force of law.

The president cannot spend money that Congress has not approved. Deficit spending is IMPOSSIBLE unless Congress writes a budget/spending bill that allows it. The president cannot even borrow money that Congress has not authorized. That is what the debt ceiling is about. It sets the legal borrowing limit for the government, but not how much the government can spend. Congress writes a budget that determine how much the government will spend. Anytime you hear Congress telling the president to cut spending, it is just baloney because Congress has to approve both spending AND borrowing.

September 27, 2013 10:14 am at 10:14 am |

Dominican mama 4 Obama

"I don't think anyone wants to go down that road," he said.
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Oh I don't know about all that.
Some of us are just asdaring as the Teatards that are trying to run us into the ground.
Some of us are thinking "Go ahead, make our day".
Some of us are sick and tired of being bullied, disregarded, and bandied about by these terrorists that call themselves representatives of the people when in fact the only peolple they are representing don't have to worry about losing their homes due to a near-catastrophic illness, or praying that their unemployed children don't get sick.
Some of us think that a shutdown would be the straw that broke the camel's back, the blinders falling to the ground, the beginning of the end for purging these terrorists from our government and our midst.

September 27, 2013 10:14 am at 10:14 am |

Anonymous

Chris Christie is the only sane one in the Republican party nowadays. Too bad he'll never win the presidency due to all the freaks that have taken over his party. Too bad....

September 27, 2013 10:21 am at 10:21 am |

wut!?!

Ted Cruz, Rand Paul and Marco Rubio . . . these are only a few of the lunatic, idiotic, childish, lying deceivers that advocate destroying America! WE NEED TO GET THEM OUT!!!!

September 27, 2013 10:21 am at 10:21 am |

Eric Darling

Finally a voice of reason amongst the other ConservaClowns in Congress. I like Christie a lot, even though I will be voting straight Democratic in 15 months after witnessing this Right Wing exercise in insanity. Good on you, Chris, wish more Republicans acted like grownups as well.

September 27, 2013 10:27 am at 10:27 am |

sonny chapman

A Repub. preaching RESPONSIBILITY in Governing ? The Tea Party ain't gonna like that.

"The fact that we are here today to debate raising America's debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the US Government can not pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government's reckless fiscal policies. Increasing America's debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that "the buck stops here." Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better."
– Sen. Barack Obama

September 27, 2013 10:31 am at 10:31 am |

MaryM

Republicans in the house, you better listen to Gov Christie

September 27, 2013 10:32 am at 10:32 am |

CC

Chris Christie is too sane to pass GOP primary.

September 27, 2013 10:37 am at 10:37 am |

JY

Responsible republican leadership. That is an oximoron...

September 27, 2013 10:44 am at 10:44 am |

JY

Christie may be the 1st party member (either) I vote for in decades. Sorry Ralph, you had your chance.

September 27, 2013 10:46 am at 10:46 am |

jzap

I like Hilary best, but I would also vote for Christie as he would do a great job of being fair and using common sense. That is lacking in congress today and would go a long way in getting this country back to where it once was in world order. A house divided can not stand and that is as easy to understand as we can say. Unfortunately it's an all about me society and our congressional leaders are the perfect poster children for this ........

September 27, 2013 10:50 am at 10:50 am |

irritatedatChristie

Why is it the Republicans always have to compromise?!! Compromise is a two-way street, Governor. The Democrats can very easily keep the government running just fine by voting to pass the bill in the Senate.